Process of imparting a wool finish to cotton cloth



Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

MORTIMER J. MACK, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY,

PROCESS OF IMPARTING A WOOL FINISH T COTTON CLOTH.

No Drawing.

Thisinvention relates to processes for producing wool-like effects in woven cotton fabrics, and the object of the invention is to transform a purely cotton fabric into a cloth which resembles wool in appearance and also in its feel, the treated fabric also approaching 'a woolen fabric in its resiliency and wearing quality] The cotton cloth is preferably woven from 1n, the better grade of cotton fibers and may vary considerably in the number of picks per inch and also in the width, including sheetlngs, beach cloths, osnaburgs,-organdies, twills and the like.

The process comprises certain definite steps which include bleaching, dyeing, napping, mercerizing, sizing and re-brush ng, or bleaching, napping, dyeing, merc er1 z1ng, SIZ- ing and re-brushing, or again, napping, dye 2 ing, mercerizing; sizing and re-hrushing, .or

finally, dyeing, napping, and re-brushing withoutbleaching.

In any 'case the cloth is used in its original, natural color and in an unshrunken condltion.

The fabric is bleached by the ordinary process of bleaching to clear the cloth of whatever kind may be used so that it w ll take the dye evenly and uniformly, no particular chemicals being claimed in this step of the process. v

The napping is produced by causing the cloth to run over a cylindrical roller conta ning teeth or teasles set therein which pick up the thread" fibers to a slight extent, but not sufficiently-to tear or otherwise damage the oods.

b In the dyeing step a cream coloredsolution is preferably used, lowering the raised nap and thoroughly incorporated in the fibers of the material. g

The mercerizing step is .conducted in the ordinary manner and by the usual chemicals customarily employed. After mercerizing the cloth is calendered by being passed through hot and cold rollers whereby a gloss or luster is imparted to the fabric.

mercerizing, sizing Application filed July 28, 1927- Serial No. 209,181.

The cloth is then disposed in aframe ma chine whereby the goods are maintained at a i predetermined width and excess shrinking. prevented. v

The next stage is the sizing, in which the goods are passed through an ordinary slashing machine which saturates the cloth with a vegetable starch, imparting weight and firm body to the goods.

Finally the fabric is re-brushed on one or both sides in a suitable machine actuating rotary brushes which operate to raise a fine nap, giving to thematerial a feel similar to that of a woolen fabric which it resembles in 1ts appearance and qualities.

While it is known that processes have been patented for finishing fabrics to produce certam effects, as that of a resemblance to linen,- leather, and the like, it is believed that the several steps as hereinbefore given and in the sequence thereof is novel as well as valuable.-

Although the foregoing is descriptive of the best known process and sequences used in the production of the finished article, it is not desired to restrict the same to the exact steps herein indicated, as it will be obvious that minor changes may be made without departing from the general tenor and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein described process of treating a cotton fabric which consists of bleaching, dyeing, napping, mercerizing, sizing and re-brushing in the order named.

2. The herein described process of metamorphosing the characteristic appearance of cotton cloth which consists of bleaching the fabric, dyeing the same to a cream tint, raising the nap on. both sides thereof, mercerizing the fabric, filling the fabric with a vegetable starch, and re-brushing to raise a velvety nap.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this application.

' MORTIMER J. MACK. 

